Community Family Health Center opens dental clinic

Friday

Mar 9, 2018 at 12:01 AM

"It's been a great thing for us. We haven't been able to afford to go to the dentist for years because of not having insurance. Now we've got a place to come." — Dave Hayman, dental and medical clinic patient at Community Mental Healthcare

Nancy Molnar The Times-Reporter @nmolnarTRStaff Reporter

DOVER For the first time in more than a year, Tuscarawas County has a dental clinic to serve patients covered by Medicaid, the uninsured, or anyone who needs low-cost care for their teeth.

Dave Hayman appreciates the services offered by the dental clinic operated as part of the Community Family Health Center, which is operated by Community Mental Healthcare.

Hayman, a 46-year-old New Philadelphia resident who works for a roofing company, does not have health insurance for his wife and two daughters. He pays the family's medical and dental costs from a health savings account, which allows him to set aside money tax-free to cover eligible expenses. The family uses both the medical and dental clinics.

"It's been a great thing for us," said Hayman, speaking at the ribbon-cutting and open house held at the clinic Thursday. "We haven't been able to afford to go to the dentist for years because of not having insurance. Now we've got a place to come.

"To have affordable health care for my family filled a huge need in our family. I pay, but it's a sliding scale based on my income. I'm a diabetic, and I was able to get good health care to get my diabetes under control."

Hayman is a patient representative on Community Mental Healthcare's board.

"I'm an advocate because I want people to know they don't have to be a patient of Community Mental Health to be able to use the facility," Hayman said.

"Anybody's welcome here," said J.J. Boroski, executive director of Community Mental Healthcare. "It's not only for one demographic."

Boroski said the medical clinic grew from the agency's examination of community needs that began seven years ago. That primary care clinic opened two years ago as a federally qualified health center, which allows it to be reimbursed by Medicaid, a government insurance program for low-income people.

"Two years into the game, we have over 1,500 people that call this their medical home," Boroski said.

After the primary care clinic opened, the agency saw that a lot of people were not able to get dental care, Boroski said. A dental program operated by the Tuscarawas County Health Department closed at the end of 2016.

Community Mental Healthcare's ability to open the dental clinic was aided by a contribution of more than $45,000 for equipment from the Rainbow Connection, Boroski said. Additional support came from the Rotary Club of New Philadelphia and United Way of Tuscarawas County.

Since opening two weeks ago, the dental clinic has served 30 patients, Boroski said.

Many of them have not seen a dentist since the health department's clinic closed, said dental hygienist Taylor McKean.

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